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Catastrophic retroperitoneal hemorrhage in COVID-19 patients under anticoagulant prophylaxis
Amir Javid1, Reza Kazemi2, Mehdi Dehghani3
1Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Khorshid Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Insights
COVID-19 patients face high thrombosis risks, leading some to suggest anticoagulants. However, a rare but deadly complication of heparin is retroperitoneal hemorrhage, requiring careful diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Internal Medicine
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- COVID-19 is associated with a significant risk of thrombotic events, including microvascular and macrovascular thrombosis.
- While some researchers advocate for anticoagulant use in COVID-19 patients, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs), current clinical guidelines do not universally recommend therapeutic doses.
Observation:
- This article highlights a less recognized complication associated with heparin administration in COVID-19 patients.
- Retroperitoneal hemorrhage, especially when involving the psoas muscle, presents a serious risk due to potentially massive, undetected bleeding.
Findings:
- Heparin, an anticoagulant, can lead to retroperitoneal hemorrhage in COVID-19 patients.
- This complication may not present with obvious early warning signs, making diagnosis challenging.
Implications:
- Increased awareness and vigilance are crucial for clinicians managing COVID-19 patients on heparin.
- Prompt diagnosis and management of retroperitoneal hemorrhage are vital to prevent potentially fatal outcomes.
Abstract:
COVID-19 patients are at high risk for both capillary micro thrombi and large vessel thrombosis. Anticoagulant administration in COVID-19 patients, especially in ICU setting, is recommended by some researchers. However, clinical guidelines don't yet recommend anticoagulation therapies in therapeutic doses in these patients. In this article, we try to introduce a less known complication of heparin application in COVID-19 patients. Retroperitoneal hemorrhage when involves the psoas muscle might be deadly because of the large volume of bleeding before causing any significant alarm. It is very important to be careful in diagnosing and managing this complication.
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